Supplements
Don’t like fish but still need Omega-3? Looking for supplements? In
order to get adequate omega-3 fatty acids many people have turned
to fish oil supplements. Most of the fish oils used for omega
purposes are originating from Chile, Peru, and Morocco. Why?
Because the omega-3 levels in the fish caught in these areas are
app. 30% higher than in Scandinavian and other fish oils (app.
20%).
Also fish oils are being used in the omega-3 industry to produce
nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals.
Vegetarian? Well, there are DHA Omega-3 products available which
are made from algae.
Benefits
Some experts believe that taking fish oil - in any form - can help
regulate cholesterol in the body due to the its high levels of
omega-3 fatty acids. The regulation occurs through effects of the
EPA and DHA constituents on Peroxisome proliferator-activated
receptor alpha (PPARα). Besides cholesterol regulation, benefits
include anti-inflammatory properties and positive effects on body
composition. However, the preferred source of omega-3 should be
from the fish's body, not the liver. The liver and liver products
(such as cod liver oil) of fish and many animals (such as seals and
whales) contain omega-3, but also the active form of vitamin A. At
high levels, this form of the vitamin can be dangerous.
Recent studies have suggested that fish oil may reduce the risk of
depression, and importantly, suicide risk. One study took blood
samples of 100 suicide-attempt patients and compared the blood
samples to those of controls and found that levels of
Eicosapentaenoic acid were significantly lower in the washed red
blood cells of the suicide-attempt patients.
Fish oil may help protect the brain from cognitive problems
associated with Alzheimer's disease - according to a study end of
September from Louisiana State University.
The American Heart Association recommends the consumption of 1g of
fish oil daily, preferably by eating fish, for patients with
coronary heart disease. Note that optimal dosage relates to body
weight.
Several studies report possible anti-cancer effects of n−3 fatty
acids (omega-3) found in fish oil (in particular: breast, colon and
prostate cancer). Omega-3 fatty acids reduced prostate cancer
growth, slowed histopathological progression, and increased
survival. Among fatty acids, neither long-chain nor short-chain
forms were consistently associated with breast cancer risk. High
levels of docosahexaenoic acid, however, the most abundant n-3 PUFA
(omega-3) in erythrocyte membranes, were associated with a reduced
risk of breast cancer.[
Did you know?
More than 50% of the world fish oil production is feed to farmed
salmon.
A study - conducted on British prisoners who were fed seafood,
which contains omega-3 fatty acids, showed that a higher
consumption of these fatty acids corresponded with a drop in the
assault rates.
A Finnish study found that prisoners who were convicted of violence
had lower levels of omega–3 fatty acids than prisoners convicted of
nonviolent offenses. It was suggested that these kinds of fatty
acids are responsible for the neuronal growth of the frontal cortex
of the brain which, it is further alleged, is the seat of personal
behavior.
